Ranma – Quest of the 5 Dragons: Legends of the Twin Warriors
Disclaimer: All Ranma Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi for Viz Comics. All Streetfighter Characters belong to Capcom/Akira. DOA Characters belong to Tecmo. All King of Fighters/Other Game Characters belong to SNK. All Other characters are made by me. This is an Altraverse Crossover-Fusion.
Chapter 1
"My, my, I see that you are about to begin on your journey. You may not remember me or understand what I am about to say but that will come with time. All you need to know is that you are connected to me. In a plane of gods, demons, ancients you are one. What? You don't believe me? I am Shen Long, I do not lie? Oh I forgot you are only five. My significant other is going to thrash me for this, but never mind you will see her or you latter...he, he...I know it is weird but it is practically your fault...well not really. You see, it is time for you to accept your destiny. You have tried to escape it before. See child, you are afraid of yourself, and that is good, for that means you are pure. But now, your sense of guilt and innocence will not do here. It is time for your ascension. In lifetimes past you have sacrificed your life just to be free from yourself. In the eyes of common people your previous lives have been honorable, and maybe even your mother's...hell, everyone up here, but I know you are afraid, Luan Mo. That is not your name? Yes it is for now anyway, your true name well we will wait on that. You think that this gift is something given, to you Luan Mo and maybe it is, but it is your right. If only you hadn't tried to help in your first life....you would have learned. It really doesn't matter though, for you can no longer run in the snow little one, not anymore. But we will discuss this for another time, the sun is rising...........and another thing, do not fight yourself this time..............."
"Aggrh. Wha..Huh? What a nightmare. I shouldn't have stayed past my bed time. And my name is Ran Ma, Why would I call me sumtin I can't say? Stupid dragon, like those things are real away...." mumbled the little one with a small braided tail in the back of his head, as he stirred and made his way out of bed. 'I'm hungry' thought the young boy as he walked around the room trying to get the sleep from his eyes, 'I wonder what mom has cooked up this mornin'. Walking toward the door he could hear his parents arguing in the dojo. Actually he couldn't hear his parents rather he heard his parents thoughts. As of a few weeks ago, the young boy by the name of Ranma had been going under some weird voodoo stuff, as he would refer to it. At first it started with him being able to read other people's thoughts and such. His first experience with this was when he was at the park playing with his friends. They were playing hide and seek at the time. Every time Ranma was it, he would be able to find his friends in a matter of minutes. Even though he pretty good at the game, due to his mother's brief ninja training, something was still off in how he was able to locate his playmates. Usually, he would have to spot someone first before he was able recognize the person, but now he was calling out the names of people and telling them to stop hiding from where ever they were hiding before he even came remotely close to them.
At first, everyone thought he was cheating, especially the young Tendo triplets, his only equals when it came to ninja and martial art training at his age. However, after numerous times of being the seeker, he was able to find them even after the sisters told their mother Kimiko to watch him to make sure he didn't cheat. He was even able to find Nabiki as she was in a grocery store hiding in one of the aisles, Akane at one of the neighbor's house, and Kasumi at the local family clinic. As a matter of fact, he was the only one who knew where there were but no one would believe him. Being worried that her daughters were missing, Soun and Genma went out to search for them while Nodoka and Kimiko stayed with Ranma. After Soun and Genma weren't able to find them, Ranma took off knowing running were the girls were. After about an hour, the 3 sisters were seen running away from Ranma as they entered back into the compound. After Kimiko sternly reprimanded her daughters about running off to who know where, Kimiko then asked Ranma how he was able to find them.
Initially, the wife of Soun, believed this was all but a prank, but after hearing how Ranma was able tell her in detail about who went where, she started to believe that the boy wasn't completely lying. Ranma even told her where Soun and Genma went to look for them. However, she wasn't sold just yet, not until her husband and his best friend retold their side. After hearing exactly the same thing that Ranma said, the Tendo matriarch quietly kept to herself the knowledge of Ranma being psychic in some way. However, someway became completely when she was watching Genma and Soun playing shogi. She knew that every so often the two men would try to cheat to get the upper hand. However, Genma and Soun were staring at each other as if they thought the board was to have provided each of them with some sort of advantage. After like 2 hours or so, they were still in a stalemate. Kimiko thought this was weird until she noticed Ranma moving his finger while pointing at the shoji board. While the two Anything Goes disciples ask Nodoka if there were any tea left, the mother of the Tendo triplets, saw the pieces on the shogi board levitate and change positions. Shocked, Kimiko dropped a stack full of papers in her hand as she saw the impossible. Not knowing how to break the news about her best friend's child's gift, she quickly got herself together and told Ranma to go do his homework.
Further proof was given a couple of days later. Kimiko who had been diagnosed with cancer had taken sick leave from teaching school, and was currently teaching Ranma. Keeping it secret, she was getting treatment from Dr. Aki Ono the family doctor. No one but her fellow teacher Hinako Hinomiya and Dr. Aki Ono knew of her condition. But one day Ranma was practically following her everywhere she went. When she needed something, Ranma would automatically do it. Even his mother was surprised at how dutiful her child was, wishing he would do that at home more. Nodoka realized that he also was like that around her; it was just that his father kept trying to make the boy be like a typical average male. When the mother of the Tendo triplets, question the pigtailed youth about his behavior his simple answer was 'You are very, very sick. Your ki is low. That is not good.' Stunned, the Tendo Matriarch tried to convince the boy otherwise, but he didn't falter. Then he said that she was keeping her problem secret because she knew she was going to die. Kimiko absolutely knew that the young Saotome was gifted.
"Look No-chan. I need this to train this boy away from home. If he is going to be the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes then he will need to train all over to be the best."
"Don't No-chan me. Why would you need a passport? Where do you think you are going to take my baby? He can train right here along with everyone. Plus, I think he should learn my family art as well."
"I don't want my son to become some dishonorable rouge assassin", exclaimed Genma as he started pacing,
"My son will be trained as a martial artist"
"Genma, I hope you are not implying that I am a dishonorable assassin", countered Nodoka as she made her way to where here family blade was, "For you married me knowing full well that I was an heir to my family's art. Plus, the Hayabusa style is composed of martial arts as well."
Upstairs, Ranma was contemplating on this recent information given to him by his parents' conversation. 'I don't want to leave mom and everyone else' he thought as he read some further surface thoughts from his parents. Just then a teenage girl came downstairs and spotted Ranma heading for the kitchen. Knowing that he didn't go to the bathroom to wash and get ready for today, the young lady with the wild and long, brown hair, quickly tripped Ranma and pinned him to the against the floor.
"Wha...Get off of me, neechan!"
"Hmm, you are slacking off in your training, little brother", commented the older girl jokingly as she help her younger half brother off the floor. The young ninja knew that she rarely could sneak up on Ranma unless he was preoccupied with something important, due to the fact that she knew he was an emergent psychic. She also knew that he held food up there as highly important, yet something was a little off with the runt, so she waited for him to get up so that she could pry that info from him.
"No, I am not. I just wasn't paying attention that is all"
"That is the point of me sneaking up on you brother. You don't so suppose to be paying attention. You are supposed to sense me."
"I was thinkin" "Thinking about what?"
"Thinking about stuff.....food"
"Un, huh, Yeah right. Plus you know you are supposed to wash up before breakfast."
"Hmm, I forgot"
"I see. You know that I know you are thinking more about that tummy of yours do you"
"How do you know, you're sye hum. Si...um...sic.... what is that word?"
"Psychic"
"Yeah you know"
"No, I just know what you are thinking about because I am older and I can see these things."
"I don't get it"
'I'm glad' she thought as she looked at the little pigtailed boy. It was adorable that the boy was smart in some ways and ignorant in others. If that wasn't the case she would be stuck with a sibling that knew everything and wouldn't need her advice. She liked the fact that Ranma looked up to her, always asking about the latest martial art tournament she was in and such. She knew that the runt would out do her and even some off the people she met in the realm of martial arts; however, she was glad that she could play teacher to her cousin, who she called brother, instead of always being the student.
"Don't worry about that you will see when you are older. Anyways you can talk to me bro. I know something is on your mind, so spill it." The one thing that boggled her about her brother was that you could read his face almost too easily. When it came to martial arts, shogi, and schoolwork, he was a different person, but when it came to everyday stuff, you almost always knew what he was thinking. That was why he was bad at playing cards when she tried to teach him. It wasn't that he didn't know the rules, it was just you could read his face to easy. He practically knew what you had in your hand because he was psychic, but you would know what he had because of his appearance. She knew that boy always dressed in Chinese clothes would be harder to read when he got older; however, she also knew it was a trait he was born with. She would always be able to read her brother.
"Mom and Dad are arguing in the dojo."
"And?"
"Well, Dad wants to take me to China to teach me the art. He says that he doesn't want me to be an assumsin or something. You know people who kill for money"
"Your dad doesn't want you to be an 'assassin', Ranma"
"Well, whatever. I do not want to go", replied a somber Ranma as he tried to reach over the counter to get something to eat. Seeing what the brat was doing, the girl with the long black hair whapped her brother's hand away from the countertop.
"What did you do that for?!" said the child of Nodoka Saotome, as he rubbed his hurt hand.
"No food until you wash up, you kaijuu"
"Ibuki-chan, I am hungry."
"Well then go wash up we can talk later" And with that the young boy was off like a rocket up the stairs. The girl named Ibuki watch her brother as he darted up the stairs. Smiling, she was startled out of her stupor when she heard her mother speak to her.
"Sorry mom, what was that?"
"That is okay my dear, I said that he his a handful"
"Not really, the kaijuu isn't that bad"
"I know, but I worry about him?"
"Mom, I need to tell you something"
"Very well, you know you can tell me anything. Some boy at school you like?" replied the mother of two, as she sat down at the table.
"Uh, no, no not that, it is about Ranma", replied her daughter as she too sat at the table. From that last statement. Nodoka cheerfulness was replaced by worry as she looked at her niece. Since Ibuki arrived here to stay permanently, Nodoka was sad and happy at the same time. Ibuki had lived a very hard life compared to some of the other students at her middle school. It didn't help that Ibuki was a part time ninja. Her mother, whom happens to be Nodoka's training partner, was murdered while she was only a baby. Plus, she had witnessed the death of her uncle at that time, by the hands of his own "brother". After that she was trained in the ninja arts along with others in the Seiden Mutou-ryu Taijutsu style. It took a while for Ibuki to get settle down in her new life. Nodoka, her aunt insisted that she called her mother. Not having one she was overjoyed with the idea, however having a mother whom was only 10 years older than her made Ibuki feel slightly uncomfortable. She also just recently returned from the Last Street Fighter Tournament. Being the best in her generation, Nodoka's clan sent Ibuki on a mission to recover some information relating to the host of the affair. While her niece wasn't able to get much, Nodoka didn't care for she had her "daughter" back and now she would be living with her family while she went to college. The downside was her daughter was very intuitive and she always knew what was amiss. Nodoka resigned to the fact that she probably already knew about her argument with her husband and prepared herself for the upcoming discussion. At least, she was protective of Ranma she thought to herself.
"What about Ranma, dear" said the Saotome Matriarch in a apprehensive tone
"Well, I do not know how to tell you this but 'Sorry bro I have to tell her' Ranma is psychic"
"NANI?!"
"Please mom, I do not want Uncle Genma to find out"
"Don't worry he went to the Tendos to blow off some steam, now what were you saying? I could have sworn you said that my son is psychic"
"Sorry mom, but I did" Looking at her daughter's serious face Nodoka was torn in either believing or not believing in what Ibuki said. On one hand she could believe her daughter due to the fact that Ranma had done some miraculous things as of late that defied being even paranormal. Ranma was just too quick of a learner that she didn't bother to question it. On the other, she didn't want Ranma to be no more abnormal then he already was. She knew that even her best friend and clan's member Kimiko hinted at the fact that her boy has some sort of gift at knowing things, but she didn't pay it any mind.
"Are you sure about this"
"Yes I am sure. Remember when Ranma ran off to find the triplets."
"Yes I recall that"
"Well I followed him and the stuff he did was not of this world."
"What do you mean?"
"Ranma has never been taught the Forbidden Techniques has he?"
"No...wait a minute, how do you know about Genma's special techniques"
"Ranma, told me. Anyways, when I was following him to the supermarket he disappeared"
At that Nodoka's face paled. She thought that maybe her son had read more than just Genma's techniques. She couldn't fathom how he could have learned such things at only the age of five. Well she sort of believed it since Ranma could learn things in almost the blink of an eye. If this conversation kept continuing on as it was, Nodoka would be forced to reveal more than just what transpired between her and her husband. She would have to talk about her past and she didn't want to do that just yet.
"Could you still sense him?"
"At first yes, but then all of a sudden I sensed his aura at the supermarket."
"He couldn't have..."
"What?"
"Hold on let me check something" with that, Nodoka got up from her seat at the table and ran upstairs, following close behind was Ibuki who was confused as what the deal was. They continued by heading into the attic, all the while Ibuki watching Ranma's mother murmuring about some box. Nodoka was frantically looking for her old photo album. Finding it she proceeded to look at the cover of the album not finding it torn or even touch she looked at her daughter whom had a bewildered look on her face. Knowing that she didn't know what was hidden in the covers of the photo album, she then looked to see if there was anything in this attic that belonged to Genma. The young ninja was about to ask her mother what was wrong until she ask her a question.
"Ibuki would you help me see if there is anything around here that looks like scrolls of some kind. We need to see if we can find Genma's scrolls. Ranma could not have gotten his hands on them. Thinking the same thing, Ibuki proceeded to help her mother in finding whatever she was looking for while taking the occasional glance and the photo album she brought out. 'She is hiding something' she thought as she looked carefully for anything that resemble what her mother was talking about.
Genma was slowly walking from the outskirts of Juuban to Nerima to meet his fellow Anything Goes comrade Soun Tendo. While walking, he pondered on the last argument he had with his wife about taking Ranma to China. Genma had tried desperately to have a child, however, due to some physical complications he was not able to. However, when Nodoka said that she was pregnant he was ecstatic. He would finally have an heir he could teach his art too. Since, Ranma could walk he had been trying to teach the boy. However, teaching him proved to be difficult. The Saotome patriarch had tried to teach Ranma as quickly as possible, albeit at a reasonable pace. But, Ranma was improving a little bit faster than he predicted, let me restate that way to fast. The boy could already produce an aura and use his ki to sense others. The kid didn't even know what ki was until the bald man with glasses had to some how explain why he was glowing. Thinking that Ranma was improving at a exponential rate, Genma thought that maybe he would never need to take that trip for he never witness a person at that age with that kind of focus and learning capability.
What changed his mind were a couple of days ago when he sparred with Ranma. A grown man sparring with a 5 year old was a little bit absurd even for Genma's taste; but, a grown man fighting a boy at the age of 5 was just plain crazy. Well that was what they were doing a few days ago. While fighting, Genma was amazed that he could not land blows that would literally catch someone of almost his caliber off guard. The pigtailed prodigy just dodged and parried almost every strike. The bandanna clad martial artist knew he had a reach, height, size, and speed advantage, so he knew Ranma couldn't hit him unless he allow him too. But despite that, Ranma was only fairly bruised up and not even winded. His agility was his only advantage, and boy did he use it. Ranma knew that he couldn't press any attack nor could he use speed to counter and hit. Ranma could only dodge and parry his father's attacks to the best of his ability. While ducking and flipping over various sweeps and kicks, the Saotome heir knew he needed an equalizer. Even though, the young lad had somehow figured out how to make himself stronger and faster by using his ki during those training exercises to get better results, he still had a 5 year old frame that could only get so strong and fast before it was detrimental to his health. That was when Genma had received the shock of his life. His son blurred for an instant and attack with a shadow ki blade that looked like a katana of some sort. Stunned Genma back away quickly to look at his son. Seeing his frustration at not being able to land a hit, Genma was about to call the match over until his son's aura flickered as he produced a mini vacuum blade projectile like the one from his forbidden techniques. In the span of less than 30 seconds Ranma had used hidden techniques from both Genma's and Nodoka's schools. Even though the vacuum ki bladed projectile missed fairly wide to the left, Genma knew that his son was not of this world and could not be taught by way of conventional methods. As Ranma fainted from exhaustion, Genma picked up his child with only one thought in mind. 'Ranma cannot remain here'
Genma also wanted to take Ranma on the trip because he felt as though he was distant from him. It wasn't that Nodoka was of ninja background and he was ashamed with that. He felt the total opposite actually. As a matter of fact his wife was almost his equal in the art if not more so. He was just slightly jealous that Ranma really didn't need him to learn anything. Even his friend's wife, Kimiko was Ranma's personal tutor, and she was a middle school teacher no less. His wife plus her niece, Ibuki, also had a lot of influence in Ranma's life. He didn't. He wasn't as educated and well rounded as the rest of the people who made up Ranma's world as of now. All he had to give his boy was the art. That was it. So he continued walking trying to some how preserve his place in the pigtailed youth's life.
Back at the Saotome home, the wild horse had just finished his soak in the furo and was ready for some breakfast. After getting dressed in the changing room, putting on a grey long sleeve Chinese shirt along with his back kung fu pants. Ranma went downstairs to see if there was anything to eat. 'Still no food' thought Ranma to himself as he looked around the kitchen for something to munch on. Finding an apple in the fruit bowl on the counter, Ranma telekinetically moved the apple to the sink to wash it off. Afterwards, he made it fly into his hand. Taking a big bite out of the apple, Ranma wondered where everyone was. Stretching out his senses Ranma could tell that his mother and sister were in the attic, and his father was drifting away, meaning that he was probably heading over to the Tendos. 'Wait a minute. Kaasan and Neechan are upstairs for what? I want to see.' the younger brother of Ibuki then levitated to the top of the stairs as he made his way to the attic. In the attic, Nodoka was replaying what her adopted daughter said about her son being psychic. She knew that she would have to end up explaining things if her baby boy ended up revealing things. With her latest dispute with Genma, she was not ready to deal with this. Glimpsing at her niece, Nodoka proceeded to ask her how she dealt with the always Chinese clothed boy's abilities.
"Ibuki-chan"
"Yes, Mom"
"How do you deal with Ranma's quirks?"
"Huh?"
"You know being able to read your mind and such"
"Oh that, well you see Ranma's abilities come and go"
"What do you mean they come and go?"
"What I mean is that Ranma sometimes does things without knowing how he did them. When I asked him how he read my mind the first time, he said he didn't know but he could feel some fluctuation in my spirit or something."
"Huh, I don't get what you are saying dear"
"Well, I don't understand either myself. Maybe you should ask Aki-sensei or Hinako-sensei. They also are aware of Ranma's ability"
"How?"
"He read there mind too. He asked them why Hinako-san needed to dress up as a nurse when Aki-san wasn't sick. Anyways have you ever seen that movie Ranma watches all the time?"
"Oh Dear, which one? The one with kung fu actors or the one with those glowing katana things"
"The one with the swords. Have you ever seen it and understood the thing about the 'Force'"
"Yes, it was just some make believe substitute for ki with bizarre precepts and powers"
"Well, according to Hinako-sensei, she said that this might not be so weird"
"You mean to tell me that this force thing is real? Is this some joke"
"No, no, I am sorry I didn't mean that. What I meant to say was that Ranma somehow uses his ki in more ways than one. Not in just the way martial artist use it, Ranma uses his ki in everything.
"Nani?"
"Let me call Hinako-sensei and Aki-sensei to better explain it. I get confused myself trying to figure out all that stuff"
"Very well. However, you really didn't answer my first question. You know about how you deal with Ranma be able to read your mind."
"Oh, well that is easy. Like I said before, the kaijuu is untrained in his powers so he can only read surface thoughts of your mind when there are real strong."
"I don't understand. And please stop calling Ranma a monster."
"It means that you must remain calm. Ranma isn't able to read thoughts that aren't you know strong."
"I think I see where you are trying to get at. If someone is very emotional or excited about a certain thought, then Ranma can read that thought."
"Yeah, you know this better than I do."
"I think I will take you up on that offer of calling Tofu and Hinako-san, are they at the clinic?"
"Yes, they should be there at this time"
At that moment, the subject of discussion made his appearance by popping up in front of the young ninja girl as he was eating his apple. Stunned, at what happen the part-time ninja fell on her bottom, knocking some boxes open.
"Don't do that you little kaijuu"
"Huh? What did I do?"
"You did that disappear/reappear trick again"
"Oh sorry I don't know how I did that, I knew you and Mom was in the attic and I couldn't get the latch open and I just well you know?"
Too say that the mother of this rambunctious child was shocked would be and understatement. She was frozen in place as she witnessed the latest feat that her baby just did without knowing. Recognizing the maneuver immediately, Nodoka Saotome was left with one question 'How?' Shaking herself from her paralyzed position, the mother of the two scrambled across the floor to look at the covers of her photo album. Checking the book over numerous of times, she wondered how her son could learn much less perform techniques which were hidden in the thick woven and bound covers of her album. But when her son asked her this next question she knew.
"Mom what is the Ka-su-mi"
"What do you mean dear? Kasumi is your friend at the Tendos, along with her sisters. You know that" hopefully replied the guardian of the two kids in the attic.
"No mom not girls, they have cooties, I mean Ka-su-mi Ji Ge Giri, the Kasumi Giri" Nodoka only response to that statement was this. She fainted.
A few blocks from the Tendo Dojo, at the Ono Family Clinic, a fairly young man with a white lab coat, and wire framed glasses named Dr. Aki Ono, was on the phone with the niece of Nodoka Saotome. Recalling how concerned Ranma's mother was about his condition, Ibuki asked the doctor if he could explain his analysis of the pigtailed youth in detail.
"Dr. Aki, mother as just found out about the little runt, so could you be so kind as to come over and explain the situation to her? I really can't do a good enough job of that because I don't fully understand myself"
"Yes, sure, I was on my way there to check up on the little prodigy anyhow. How is Nodoka? Did she take the news well?"
"At first, but then Ranma appeared right in front of us, coming out of nowhere. Mom fainted"
"Excuse me?"
"He just went poof, I am here"
"That's insane"
"I know. Mom is now nervously pacing back forth worrying. I'm telling you Doc, she has about lost it."
"Tell her to calm down. I am on my way."
"Dr. Ono?"
"Yes?"
"Could you please bring both Hinako-Sensei and Kimiko-Sensei?"
"Why Mrs. Tendo?"
"Because she knows about Ranma, plus she is his tutor. Also, if Mom along, with Auntie Tendo and Hinomiya-san are over here that will prevent Uncle Tendo and Uncle Saotome from coming to find out what is up. Mom doesn't want them to find out just yet. They might overreact.
"Clever. I now understand. I will be sure to relay the message.
"Thanks, Aki-sensei. You're the best"
"I will see you later, bye."
"Bye"
"Aki-chan, who was it?" said a beautiful woman as she entered the clinic's office. Wearing a green blazer, along with a matching skit, she sat on top of the office desk watching her fiancé look through his file cabinet
"That was Ibuki..."
"Don't tell me. Nodoka knows"
"Yeah"
"I see" said the young school teacher as she saw her significant other place a file on his desk. Noticing the name as Saotome Ranma, she wondered how a little kid like that could do all those amazing things.
"Hina-chan, would you be willing to accompany me along with Kimiko-san, to visit the Saotomes. Judging from how Ibuki sounded on the phone, Nodoka seems to be pretty shaken up by this. I also get the impression that she doesn't want her husband to know."
"I can understand that, Genma and Soun can be quite irrational at times. I still do not believe I had a crush on Soun back then."
"I hope I fit your requirements now your highness" replied Dr. Ono with a lecherous smirk
"You passed phenomenally well in all categories but I think I need to test you again just to make sure. I might have been wrong in my analysis" responded Hinako as she wrapped her arms around her fiancé.
"Really"
"But not now, my love. I am worried about our friends. Kimiko has been diagnosed with cancer, and she is keeping it secret. I know Nodoka his hiding something, and her child Ranma, I don't know what to say about him. I do not feel well about this", said Hinako as she peck her husband to be on the lips.
"Me too, but all will be revealed soon."
"Well, let me call Kimiko and we will meet you there okay" stated the young school teacher as she reluctantly left Aki's embrace.
"Okay I will meet you there. Make sure the men don't feel suspicious. Oh and one more thing could you please take Tofu with you. He has been messing with my tools all day."
"You know that son of yours is going to be the death of you"
"Not if you beat him too it" grinned the doctor as he hugged his wife to be from behind
"Pervert"
Somewhere along the backstreets of Tokyo, an unknown man in a cloak walked across a deserted alley. Coming to a brick wall, the man slowly took his arm out and drew his hand back. With a seemingly one swift motion the man swung his hand down as if it were a sword, at the opposing wall. The wall looked as though it was untouched, until the man lightly pushed it in the center. The result left, a falling 4 wide foot pillar of concrete brick crashing down to the ground. The man continued on his way through his makeshift drawbridge as the debris from the street fluttered noisily with the wind. The disillusioned individual then slit his wrist, the blood coming out in a pinkish-violet color. Taking a drink of his own blood, the man mutter one phrase
"You are not the only one who has the scrolls of immortality...my friend."
Walking casually down the street, the bandanna clad martial artist with glasses reached the gates of the Tendo Dojo. Thinking about ways to relieve his insecurities dealing with his son, the master of the Saotome Branch looked forward to thrashing Soun in a nice game of shogi. As he entered the gate, he spotted Soun's wife and Hinako-san to the right of the dojo. Rounding the corner of the house he sees his old friend inside the dojo training his daughters the basics of the Anything Goes Style.
"Hey Tendo, looks like you are on your way to having an heir, 3 beautiful ones at that"
"Why, thanks my friend. They are my special treasures. They really do take after there mother" The said daughters sensing freedom from their dad turned sensei scattered out of the dojo to play outside. Seeing Tofu watching the pond, Akane proceeded to show him one her supposed new martial art tricks, while Kasumi and Nabiki tried to prevent Akane from hurting Tofu or herself.
"Ah, yes they do indeed. Out of all of them which one shows the most interest in the art?"
"Right now it is too early to tell. However I can say that Kasumi and Nabiki are very good at learning their mother's art better than Akane. Akane seems to be too energetic to learn the basics of the Mugen Tenshin Style. But as I said it is too early to tell."
"Your daughters are learning both the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu and the Mugen Tenshin Ryu. I mean doesn't that intrude with having a sole heir of the Anything Goes Style. I mean the way of the ninja is outdated, and...and"
"I feel as though the addition of Kimi-chan's style helps improve the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu. Anyways our style is suppose be able to adapt and fuse with many others, so I don't see what the problem is.
"It is just...I really don't know"
"Is something troubling you my friend?"
"My boy"
"Now that kid is a natural. That son of yours is 10 years ahead of my best students. You are lucky to have a child that is so enthused with learning the art."
"That is not the problem. The boy needs to follow in my foot steps to carry on the tradition of the Saotome clan, he must be a man amongst men, he..." boasted Genma
Hearing Soun's friend and fellow martial art peer shout all of sudden, suddenly dropped their conversation to see what had, the bear like, man all wound up. Finding the dojo doors closed, the young Furikan High cautiously approached the dojo so she could eavesdrop.
"Hina-chan, get away from that door this instant" hissed the Tendo mother as she look over to where Tofu and her daughters were, as of the moment Tofu was wrapped head to toe in rope while her most vivacious child, little Akane tried to toll him away. Kasumi and Nabiki were quiet laughing as Tofu was dragged across the ground. 'Poor boy' thought Kimiko as she moved to get her fellow school teacher's attention.
"Ah don't be such a prude. They are only talking about you know who"
"Well that boy of his is out of this world. There is no wonder he is worried."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it is not for me to say"
"Well, if you don't to want tell me then at least let me get the info elsewhere" retorted Hinako as she playfully shooed Kimiko out of the way, "Now go on before I cause a scene"
"Oh all right"
Not wanting to listen in on her husband conversation, Kimiko instead went to watch her kids harass the 8 year old child of their family doctor. The supposed boy was now tied to a tree, due to his blue haired assailant. Kasumi and Nabiki were trying to get the rope unloose so Tofu could get free. Even though the scene was amusing, her curiosity got the best of her and she wondered back to the dojo to see what was so interesting about the dialogue going inside that her friend didn't loose interest yet.
"What is going on in there?" whispered the Assistant Master of the Mugen Tenshin Ryu, as she came closer to the door.
"I see that you couldn't stay way too huh, chuckled, the first female student of Happosai, "It seems to me that air of fidelity you hold is just a facade."
"Oh, why don't you just be quiet and move over" rejoined the bluish-black haired woman Her friend only reply was to quietly laugh to herself as she made more room for them to listen in. Inside the dojo, Soun was slowly unraveling what was causing his frequent shogi partner so much anxiety. Knowing that his daughters learning their mother's art really had no relevance to Genma problem, Soun just went to source and flat out asked him.
"I think your son is on his way to accomplishing those things in more. Does this have anything to do with your son learning from Nodoka?"
"No..it is just...ah yes. Yes it is"
"You think he will grow up to be like his mother?"
"If that were to happen he.....would not be my child."
"Of course he would be your child....oh I get it"
"You see, that boy doesn't need me. He will surpass me in the next few years. What then? I can't teach him anything else. He already sees me as an opponent to surpass. Guess what he did? When we were last sparring, he threw a vacuumed chi blade at me. How in the hell did he do that? I check my scrolls to see if there were out of place. They were all there. Even if they wasn't all there how did have enough ki and focus to do that?"
After hearing Genma's last words, everyone listening to the conversation were shaking in their boots. Ranma wasn't a malicious child, not even close to one, but with his uncanny abilities, he was a danger to himself and to others. With this recent information, Hinako and Kimiko agreed that they needed to tell Ono of this latest revelation. Meanwhile Soun, was seriously reconsidering if it were safe if to keep the pact him and Genma made about joining the schools. Seeing how his comrade looked, the man in his trademark white gi decided to placate his friend's worries.
"Don't worry the future of our schools will be safe. I have decided that I will take Ranma on a training trip to China. There I hope I can keep him from doing anything drastic.
"Are you sure about this"
"I am, for this is the only solution I can think of"
Expecting company, Nodoka decided it was best if Ibuki took Ranma out for some ice cream. Knowing that Mom really didn't approve of Ranma's addiction to ice cream, the young female ninja knew something was big. Recalling the way the Saotome Matriarch held that photo book and the what her adopted brother said before Nodoka fainted, Ibuki felt like she was being left out so she decided to get the inside scoop from the kaijuu.
"Hey Ranma, what is the Kasumi Giri?"
"Slurp Slurp" responded the Chinese clothed boy as he finished his second sundae, "Ah that was good, neechan can I have another one?"
"Not until you answer my question" answered Ibuki with a sigh. Ibuki should have known she would go broke taking Ranma out for ice cream. That was his second large sundae he just consumed, not too mention the two ice cream cones before that.
"Huh?"
"What is the Kasumi Giri?"
"It is a move that makes you go poof" said the young lad as he gestured with his hands to make up for his lack of vocabulary. Getting the hint, Ibuki asked him another question.
"Why did you ask mom about the move?"
"Because there is sco....soll"
"Scroll Ranma"
"Yeah, scrolls in that picture book"
"What else are on those scrolls?"
"Some moves that turn your arms into swords"
Getting the gist of it, the young ninja asked her younger sibling if there was anything else that the he knew about before coming to an assumption.
"What other moves do you know?"
"Sumtin like the Kasumi Giri, but I think it is hidden under the Tendo Dojo. The name on the paper was Hapo sumtin and..."
"Ranma 'something'"
"Yeah, something, and some moves where you kick and punch really fast and stuff"
"Like my Haishin-Sho and Tsumuji"
"Yeah. I think I found a way to shoot that ki stuff out your hands too, and take ki away from stuff. Like what Hinako-san use to do, before she mastered it. But I am not too good with those things yet. I need a lot more practice. But I did grow a little when I tried it the first time."
"Don't you have to use that special coin?"
"Not really, but you have to conc....conce......think real hard."
"The word is concentrate, Ranma. What kinds of names were on these scrolls" inquired the former Street Fighter participant. Ibuki had to prevent herself from facefaulting with the news of what her so called brother conveyed. Like Ono-san, Ibuki realized that Ranma had a photographic memory. That, along with his psionic attributes allowed him to learn things extremely fast. It also enabled the boy to catalogue information for further use. If Ranma's body was at least that of a 10 year old he could almost defeat each martial artist here in Nerima in a one on one match, deduced the female ninja. That meant that Ranma may need to go on that trip to China to better himself, because he would not get that here. Unlike everyone else, Ibuki wasn't scared of Ranma. She knew the boy had limitations. He could only tinker around with a certain technique once or twice before becoming totally exhausted. It was due to the fact that he was only 5, (actually more like 6 in a month and a half) for there was only so much he could do before he lacked the knowledge and/or physical necessity to do each move effectively. None of his abilities would help him in a fight. However, Ranma improved at an exponential rate, and it would only be a matter of time before his gifts became second nature.
"I can't read the names to well. Most of the words were in Chinese."
"NANI?! Do you know Chinese?"
"A little"
"Holy shit"
"Neechan isn't that a bad word."
And with that the young shinobi facefaulted
"Hey neechan get up, you said that after you stopped talkin I could get some more ice cream!"
Back at the Saotome household the owner at Ono's Family Clinic was waiting at the table as his host served tea. After placing a cup in front of him, Nodoka took a seat across from the doctor sipping her own tea, patiently waiting for the news to be revealed about her son.
"So, Doctor. What is wrong with my child?"
"Nothing. I've a question?"
"You know I won't answer that."
"Okay, but one day he is going to find out and soon if I assume correctly of his abilities."
"Care to explain?"
"Well, remember how your niece?"
"She is my daughter from now on."
"Okay your daughter was explaining the comparisons with ki to the force thing in the movie?"
"Yes I remember."
"Well, your son, Ranma, has this miraculous facility to use his ki and some other underlying energy source as he sees fit."
"Nani?!"
"Let me continue. Ranma wasn't born psychic nor was he born with this remarkable amount of ki that he possesses now."
"So how did he become psychic?"
"I am trying to understand that myself. From what I've researched, Ranma is able to use ki probes to read people's minds. However, not even the greatest of empaths or martial artists can accomplish this. They use ki probes to read emotions and just surface thoughts."
"But Ibuki said that Ranma could only read surface thoughts."
"That is what he can sense without really trying. If Ranma picks up on something interesting from someone, he will probably put more effort in trying to get that particular information."
"That is why he is learning techniques so quickly?"
"That is one of the reasons, yes. The others are due to his photographic memory and his intelligence."
"What about this other energy source that you talk about? What is it?"
"I do not have a name for it, but it seems as though everyone has this energy source. However, it is something that is so small no one really notices it. Yet your son...."
"Go on."
"When I examined your son last, his ki seemed to have something else within it. Like a nerve of some sort."
"Nerve? I am totally lost Aki"
"Ki is supposedly used to be just an extension of your physical abilities. You can improve your sense of smell, sight, touch, hearing, taste. However, martial artist mainly use this for increasing their speed and strength which correlates more to the sense of touch. Empaths and martial art masters use ki for the other senses. Ranma's ki is like that but more. It is as if his ki is a pure substitution of himself, in physical ways and in mental ways."
"Isn't that the same as what you just described?"
"No, Ranma's ki is like his body. Instead of using it to improve his body or be an extension of it, Ranma can use it as if it is his body. He can use it to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell something without being near it or doing the above things. For example, he can have his eyes closed and recognize colors, not because someone was thinking of them, but because he actually saw it with his ki. That source of energy bounded to ki gives him the ability to have 6th and 7th sense, more or less. If that is the case, Whatever Ranma thinks is possible, is possible."
"H...How?"
Just then the door bell rung, signifying some one was at the door. Getting up to answer it, the Saotome Matriarch excused herself to get to the door. When she opened the door, she was surprised and a little miffed at seeing her daughter and son at the door. She was about to reprimand them, until she saw the worried and concerned look on her adopted daughter's face.
"Mom, I know we were supposed to be out while you were talking to Ono- sensei, but you need to hear this", stated Ibuki as she dragged an ice cream covered Ranma in the house. Recognizing that the doctor was already here she acknowledge him by saying, "Doc, you also need to hear this" before she hastily sat herself and her charge down at the table.
"You didn't have to drag me here I can walk on my own" shouted the young boy as he glared at his sister.
"I don't call floating in mid air walking, do you?"
The older adults blanched at hearing this. Feeling the uncomfortable stares given to her and her brother, the young shinobi just flat out told them what she and the kaijuu discussed at the ice cream parlor.
After, she was finished with her tale; her mother was almost in a state of shock, while Dr. Ono was now pacing back and forth across the dining room.
"For someone like Ranma to be able to perform the Happo Go-en Satsu without the coin is amazing. Plus the fact that he survived this in the first place is out of this world."
"Genma may be right that Ranma needs to go on a long training trip, my son what am I going to do without you?"
"Hey mom, what are you talking about", inquired the little boy as he looked at his mother's solemn face. Not wanting to see her unhappy the young lad tried to cheer her up. "Hey mom I am not going anywhere? I want to be with you and neechan."
Looking at her son trying to give confidence to her almost broke her heart, for she knew that he was going to suffer a lot more than he realized. Gathering up her resolve, Nodoka finally knew what she needed to do. Getting Ono's support was a big help, for without him she knew she wouldn't be able to do this. Going towards a painting along the west wall of the room, Nodoka removed the painting to reveal a small safe. Opening the safe, Nodoka, picked out an old necklace and put it around her son. After that, she took a container of what seemed to be water and poured it over her son.
"What was that for?" said a now wet Ranma, as he looked at his mother skeptically
'You are now ready for your journey' said a voice inside Ranma's head
'What was that!?' said a spooked out Ranma. Everyone thinking that the pigtailed was still rambling on about what just happened didn't pick up on his outburst.
'Be quiet little one unless you want them to think you're crazy. Speak in your mind'
'Kay, who are you?'
'The stupid dragon'
'Oops, what do you want with me'
'Look at your pendant on the necklace'
As the young prodigy studied his necklace, it began to glow with a gold- yellowish hue on the bottom of the bronze pendant. Wondering what it was, he asked his mother about it.
"Mom, what is this?" asked the pigtailed boy as he raised his necklace to show to his mother.
"That was given to me from one of my brothers of my clan. I want you to keep it" replied the older woman in a kimono. She really couldn't divulge any more information due to the fact that she didn't know much about the pendant itself. However she knew the person, a man, all too well. But she wasn't going to reveal that secret until the time was right.
"What was with the water?"
"It is sort of an initiation for new ninja recruits"
"Huh, what is init...tia...shon? Initiation. Hey I got it right!"
"You have to go on this training trip with your father." She looked on appraisingly at her son as he contemplated on this latest predicament. The only reason Nodoka didn't explain further about what was going on was because she herself didn't know the secrets behind this foreboding event. All she remembered was...
Flashback
"Nodoka-san?" said a man, whose head was wrapped in cloth, obscuring his face. The only thing the cloth didn't cover was his long ponytail and piercing green eyes. Clothed in a worn out military outfit, the man removed from his perch near the window as he looked at the person who just walked in his camp. The person who just walked in was beautiful young woman clad in a standard ninja outfit. She had long reddish brown hair that cascaded down to the small of her back. Noticing what she had in her hands the unknown man had to snicker to himself.
"Yes" said the young woman as she prepared herself for a brief kata.
"Always carrying around that blasted sword of yours I see", said the character with a chuckle, as he removed himself from the shadows so his guest could get a better look at him.
"I have to keep practicing you know. I prefer not sit around all day moping about stuff"
"Hey, I train enough. Anyways where is that boyfriend of yours."
"He is not my boyfriend! Plus, I thought you wanted me to stay away from him. What is with the change of heart, huh?"
"With your stubborn institution it was inevitable. Well?"
"Oh, sorry he went for a walk. You know he is your friend. What is with this hostility between you two?"
"He is arrogant, always fuming about that clan that he is after, saying that they took what was rightfully his. I'm telling you stay away from him. Trouble follows him. It is bad enough that his sister is a part of a different rival clan."
"I thought you were his friend. How could talk about him like that? You are just mad that he is a better fighter that you. Even after all the improvement you've done, you still can't match him."
"He is too serious. He is always trying to find out who killed his friend and his sister. Plus he holds back when we are fighting. Even when I do get the chance to one up him, I know it is not a true victory."
"Are you referring to Allison Bogard" inquired the young female ninja in a pensive tone.
"Yep. That was the only girl I've seen besides you that he has ever talked to" stated the man as he reminisced. "Now he is becoming a hired assassin, hoping to find clues in the underground."
"You said that Geki was a descendant from the great Hanzo Hattori, did you not?"
"Yes, he is also a descendant from this tribe also, from some Chinese ninja master but I do not remember the name. You are not going to confront him about this are you?"
"Ah, hum..."
"I should have known. You do have feelings for him. Anyways I have something to give you", said the man as he walked to the edge of his huge tent and bent down to retrieved a bag. Pulling out a jug of water and a small necklace with a bronze medallion he handed them to his fellow occupant.
"Isn't these the things needed for an initiation of a new student?"
"Yes. They are" replied the man as he got up from the floor and walk up to Nodoka."
"But, I am not a student of your style. Why did you give me this?"
"That is for your child. You see I do not have any successors of my arts and I would like for you to teach a child of yours all that comes with being a ninja in this style" answer the unknown guy as he retrieve a few scrolls from the bag and gave them to Nodoka.
"But I do not even have a child. Plus, what if I have more than one, who should I give it too?"
"You will know. Anyways, promise me that you will give your kid these when he or she is ready and train them to the best of your abilities."
"I promise."
"Very well, I will leave you to your practice then."
"Okay" responded Nodoka as she unsheathed her blade and started the first movements of her kata. After her first swing she called back to the enigmatic man as she turned around
"Thanks, Lin-san"
"I should be the one saying thanks" responded Lin, as he left the tent. Under his breath he murmured softly "An Mei............."
End of Flashback
Still in her daydream, the Saotome Matriarch was a little surprised at her son's recent outburst
"Mom why do I have ta go on that stupid trainin trip with the old man" stated the young boy in a dismayed voice, as he thrashed his arms around starting a tantrum.
"Son, do not talk that way about your father" chided Nodoka gently as she turned her gaze to the other occupants in the room.
Ranma was about to make a retort when the voice of the dragon in his dreams spoke again
'You must go to protect the people you care about'
'Huh, what do you mean?'
'Do you want to be the best martial artist that ever lived?'
'Yeah'
'Then you have to go. What is the purpose of a martial artist?'
'To help people who are weaker than I. To protect them I think.'
'It seems that your baka of a father actually taught you something of use.'
'Hey only I can call my old man a baka, baka.'
'Oh really' replied the dragon as he started to show a demonic grin. Scaring the young boy out of his wits was very amusing; however, he needed the boy to be somewhat consciously aware of his presence to continue talking to him.
'Don't do that you big reptile'
'I have a name you know, Luan Mo'
'I have a name too, and it is Ran Ma. Ranma! What is your name anyways?'
'Shen Long'
'Nani?!'
'He, he. Surprised aren't you?'
'You are real. I thought you were make believe and stuff'
'I am very real, so do you trust me now?'
'I guess so'
'Well then stop being a kaijuu' humorously replied Shen Long as he vanished from the pigtailed boy's mind.
"Stupid Dragon"
'I heard that, Luan Mo'
'Oops, My name is not...Aw forget it.'
"What was that Ranma" questioned Ibuki as she looked at her younger sibling carefully. She was a little perplexed to why the young pugnacious boy was mumbling under his breath like that. Chalking it up to the wind, the female shinobi just decided that it was just another one of those eccentricities that abnormal people had, forgetting that she was just a bit atypical herself.
"Ah, nothing"
"Kay, I'm going to the dojo for some practice. You want to come?"
"You bet"
Back in Nerima, Hinako and Kimiko had just got on the connecting train from their home to Juuban. On the train ride, the newest teacher at Furikan glanced at her friend sitting next to her as seem to be a little out of sorts. Worried that she might not be feeling well, Hinomiya-san questioned her fellow school teacher to see if she was alright.
"Tendo-san, are you feeling well?"
"I'm okay just feeling a little under the weather I supposed" replied the Tendo matriarch tiredly as she shifted in her seat. Her eyes fluttered briefly as if she was about to fall asleep. Perturbed of her associate's out of the blue behavior, the fiancé of Aki Ono, lightly shook her to keep her awake.
"Kimi-san, you seem a little lethargic. Should we turn around? I feel as though you need some rest"
"No, no I'm alright" responded the wife of Soun Tendo wearily. Truth was she was feeling very sluggish all of a sudden. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to succumb to her friend's annoying prodding; therefore, she continued her pretense that she was alright.
Hinako apprehensively studied her traveling companion. Gazing at her face, she could see that her friend was perspiring a little and seem as if she was running a high fever. The way her posture was set, it looked as though Kimiko would fall on her face any minute. The mother of the 3 Tendo triplets abruptly groaned as she clutched her stomach. The former student of the Anything Goes School immediately was trying to probe her friend to find out what was wrong. Not getting any answer, just a couple of moans, she then called for help. At that moment, Kimiko clutched her stomach even harder as she passed out from the pain.
"Kimi-san, Kimi-san, wake up. Oh my god, someone please help us!"
Back at the Saotome Dojo, the young female shinobi and her pigtailed sibling were lightly sparring. As of the moment, Ibuki was having the upper hand, keeping the little tyke off balance with her reach and speed. However, the "wild horse" wonder wasn't showing his full deck yet. Knowing he wasn't able to get in reach to pass her defenses, Ranma thought about using something he mention to his older sibling earlier. He just needed the time and right opportunity to strike.
Rolling under a mid swing kick, the pig tailed kid dropped back and to the left, knowing full well she was right handed. Thinking that his sister would pull out one those "Hien" kicks, to knock him out of the air, Ranma decided that he had the perfect counter. Jumping up, the Saotome heir look as if he was going to try for a flying kick hoping that she would take the bait.
She didn't. The older shinobi could easily see that the kick was a feint, due to the lack of size the boy had. She could see that he tried to put as much effort into the maneuver as possible, but he was just too small to make it look convincing. Feeling a little mischievous, Ibuki decided to show the little runt why she was one of the best in her generation. 'For now' she thought. As Ranma realize that Ibuki wasn't going to fall for his ploy, he panicked; therefore he wasn't able to read her mind to see the painful fate she had in store for him. It was then that she grabbed him out of the air. Needless to say, the result was very awful.
"Ack! Let me go"
"Raida!" exclaimed the soon to be high school ninja has she picked up the pint-size boy up with one arm and blasted him with a small ki burst.
"Owwwwie!" screeched the Chinese clothed boy as he sailed out the dojo entrance to land in a heap just outside the back door to the house.
"He, he, that will prevent you from trying that lame trick again, ne" snorted Ibuki as she casually walked outside to see to her 'brother'.
"Yeah, yeah, you got me" groggily replied Ranma, as he removed himself off the ground while brushing the dirt of his clothes.
Ibuki was kind of shocked that the boy admitted defeat so easily. Well, not really seeing that the boy lost every single sparring to her. However, she was really spooked that her sparring partner didn't comment on her latest technique. She knew he didn't know about it therefore that meant that Ranma had not read all of her thoughts to know about all of her secrets. Usually when the little kaijuu saw something new or extraordinary, he would be jumping at the chance to see how it was done. This time it was different...
"What is wrong Ranma?" asked Ibuki in a worried tone.
"I do not know" replied the little youth as he looked around randomly
Ibuki was getting uneasy by the way the runt was acting. 'Maybe I hit him too hard. Nope that can't be it his father has done worse. A hell of a lot worse I might add.' Thinking back to when Genma blindfolded Ranma and used him as a human piñata brought back a terrified experience. How someone is supposed do dodge attacks when they are hanging upside down on a tree and blindfolded is beyond comprehension. Getting upset by her frequent charge's antics, Ibuki was ready to pound the poor boy some more.
"What do you mea...?"
All of a sudden, Ranma ran into the house saying that they needed to go to the doctor. Everyone was stunned as to what was wrong. When Nodoka and Dr. Ono got up from the kitchen table to see what had the child so roused up. Ranma literally slammed into his mother on the leg and grab her as hard as he could.
"Ouch, Ranma please let go of my leg!"
"Sorry mom."
"I told you about running in the house. Now what is going on?"
"We have to go to the doctor's"
"Huh. Why did something happen to you or Ibuki outside? Dr. Tofu could you?"
"There is nothing wrong with me", replied Ibuki as she came up behind Ranma. "I do not know what the kaijuu is talking about"
"Ibuki stop calling Ranma a kaijuu"
"Sorry, I can't help it. He is you know"
"Ibuki"
"Okay, Okay"
"Well Ranma is there something I can help you with?" inquired Dr. Ono as he squatted down to meet the boy's gaze. Looking over him, Dr. Ono couldn't really see if he needed to go to the doctor's office, but with this kid you never knew.
"No Doc, it is Auntie Tendo, she is in trouble."
All the other people looked at each other as if Ranma had grown a new head. Just then the phoned ringed. Excusing herself from the silence, the mother of the household answered the phone.
"Hello, Saotome Residence, may I help you."
As Nodoka continued to talk on the phone her face became paler by the second. When she hung up the phone everyone went to ask why the sad face while Ranma was at the door as if waiting for them.
"Mom, why the sad face all of a sudden?" questioned Ibuki as she put her arm around Nodoka's back for support. Nodoka looked toward Dr. Ono before the tears started following down.
"It is Kimiko-san, she...she..."
Dr. Aki Ono didn't need further information. He knew this time would be coming soon but he was still surprised at Ranma's little outburst
"Auntie is dying, we need to hurry up!"
Cataloging the pigtailed boy's recent feat for a later time, Dr. Ono went to help Ibuki get Nodoka outside, but was startled when the young shinobi pointed at spot Ranma was.
"Where is Ranma" questioned the doctor as he looked around. "He was just here a few seconds ago."
"He vanished" replied Ibuki offhandedly as she made sure her mother didn't freak out, "Don't worry. I have an idea to where he went."
"Okay" answered the fiancé of Hinako as he became more and more confused.
"Remember what I was talking about earlier. Well you just witnessed the......
"That was the Kage-Houshi" said Nodoka between sniffles, "I am not worried about my son, knowing him he his probably there already, let's get a move on"
The trio then got into Dr. Aki Ono's car and made there way to Tokyo General Hospital to see if Kimiko Tendo would be alright, or better yet to see if she would survive her ordeal.
End of Chapter 1
Comments, Criticism, Flames, can be sent to northstar386msn.com
Disclaimer: All Ranma Characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi for Viz Comics. All Streetfighter Characters belong to Capcom/Akira. DOA Characters belong to Tecmo. All King of Fighters/Other Game Characters belong to SNK. All Other characters are made by me. This is an Altraverse Crossover-Fusion.
Chapter 1
"My, my, I see that you are about to begin on your journey. You may not remember me or understand what I am about to say but that will come with time. All you need to know is that you are connected to me. In a plane of gods, demons, ancients you are one. What? You don't believe me? I am Shen Long, I do not lie? Oh I forgot you are only five. My significant other is going to thrash me for this, but never mind you will see her or you latter...he, he...I know it is weird but it is practically your fault...well not really. You see, it is time for you to accept your destiny. You have tried to escape it before. See child, you are afraid of yourself, and that is good, for that means you are pure. But now, your sense of guilt and innocence will not do here. It is time for your ascension. In lifetimes past you have sacrificed your life just to be free from yourself. In the eyes of common people your previous lives have been honorable, and maybe even your mother's...hell, everyone up here, but I know you are afraid, Luan Mo. That is not your name? Yes it is for now anyway, your true name well we will wait on that. You think that this gift is something given, to you Luan Mo and maybe it is, but it is your right. If only you hadn't tried to help in your first life....you would have learned. It really doesn't matter though, for you can no longer run in the snow little one, not anymore. But we will discuss this for another time, the sun is rising...........and another thing, do not fight yourself this time..............."
"Aggrh. Wha..Huh? What a nightmare. I shouldn't have stayed past my bed time. And my name is Ran Ma, Why would I call me sumtin I can't say? Stupid dragon, like those things are real away...." mumbled the little one with a small braided tail in the back of his head, as he stirred and made his way out of bed. 'I'm hungry' thought the young boy as he walked around the room trying to get the sleep from his eyes, 'I wonder what mom has cooked up this mornin'. Walking toward the door he could hear his parents arguing in the dojo. Actually he couldn't hear his parents rather he heard his parents thoughts. As of a few weeks ago, the young boy by the name of Ranma had been going under some weird voodoo stuff, as he would refer to it. At first it started with him being able to read other people's thoughts and such. His first experience with this was when he was at the park playing with his friends. They were playing hide and seek at the time. Every time Ranma was it, he would be able to find his friends in a matter of minutes. Even though he pretty good at the game, due to his mother's brief ninja training, something was still off in how he was able to locate his playmates. Usually, he would have to spot someone first before he was able recognize the person, but now he was calling out the names of people and telling them to stop hiding from where ever they were hiding before he even came remotely close to them.
At first, everyone thought he was cheating, especially the young Tendo triplets, his only equals when it came to ninja and martial art training at his age. However, after numerous times of being the seeker, he was able to find them even after the sisters told their mother Kimiko to watch him to make sure he didn't cheat. He was even able to find Nabiki as she was in a grocery store hiding in one of the aisles, Akane at one of the neighbor's house, and Kasumi at the local family clinic. As a matter of fact, he was the only one who knew where there were but no one would believe him. Being worried that her daughters were missing, Soun and Genma went out to search for them while Nodoka and Kimiko stayed with Ranma. After Soun and Genma weren't able to find them, Ranma took off knowing running were the girls were. After about an hour, the 3 sisters were seen running away from Ranma as they entered back into the compound. After Kimiko sternly reprimanded her daughters about running off to who know where, Kimiko then asked Ranma how he was able to find them.
Initially, the wife of Soun, believed this was all but a prank, but after hearing how Ranma was able tell her in detail about who went where, she started to believe that the boy wasn't completely lying. Ranma even told her where Soun and Genma went to look for them. However, she wasn't sold just yet, not until her husband and his best friend retold their side. After hearing exactly the same thing that Ranma said, the Tendo matriarch quietly kept to herself the knowledge of Ranma being psychic in some way. However, someway became completely when she was watching Genma and Soun playing shogi. She knew that every so often the two men would try to cheat to get the upper hand. However, Genma and Soun were staring at each other as if they thought the board was to have provided each of them with some sort of advantage. After like 2 hours or so, they were still in a stalemate. Kimiko thought this was weird until she noticed Ranma moving his finger while pointing at the shoji board. While the two Anything Goes disciples ask Nodoka if there were any tea left, the mother of the Tendo triplets, saw the pieces on the shogi board levitate and change positions. Shocked, Kimiko dropped a stack full of papers in her hand as she saw the impossible. Not knowing how to break the news about her best friend's child's gift, she quickly got herself together and told Ranma to go do his homework.
Further proof was given a couple of days later. Kimiko who had been diagnosed with cancer had taken sick leave from teaching school, and was currently teaching Ranma. Keeping it secret, she was getting treatment from Dr. Aki Ono the family doctor. No one but her fellow teacher Hinako Hinomiya and Dr. Aki Ono knew of her condition. But one day Ranma was practically following her everywhere she went. When she needed something, Ranma would automatically do it. Even his mother was surprised at how dutiful her child was, wishing he would do that at home more. Nodoka realized that he also was like that around her; it was just that his father kept trying to make the boy be like a typical average male. When the mother of the Tendo triplets, question the pigtailed youth about his behavior his simple answer was 'You are very, very sick. Your ki is low. That is not good.' Stunned, the Tendo Matriarch tried to convince the boy otherwise, but he didn't falter. Then he said that she was keeping her problem secret because she knew she was going to die. Kimiko absolutely knew that the young Saotome was gifted.
"Look No-chan. I need this to train this boy away from home. If he is going to be the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes then he will need to train all over to be the best."
"Don't No-chan me. Why would you need a passport? Where do you think you are going to take my baby? He can train right here along with everyone. Plus, I think he should learn my family art as well."
"I don't want my son to become some dishonorable rouge assassin", exclaimed Genma as he started pacing,
"My son will be trained as a martial artist"
"Genma, I hope you are not implying that I am a dishonorable assassin", countered Nodoka as she made her way to where here family blade was, "For you married me knowing full well that I was an heir to my family's art. Plus, the Hayabusa style is composed of martial arts as well."
Upstairs, Ranma was contemplating on this recent information given to him by his parents' conversation. 'I don't want to leave mom and everyone else' he thought as he read some further surface thoughts from his parents. Just then a teenage girl came downstairs and spotted Ranma heading for the kitchen. Knowing that he didn't go to the bathroom to wash and get ready for today, the young lady with the wild and long, brown hair, quickly tripped Ranma and pinned him to the against the floor.
"Wha...Get off of me, neechan!"
"Hmm, you are slacking off in your training, little brother", commented the older girl jokingly as she help her younger half brother off the floor. The young ninja knew that she rarely could sneak up on Ranma unless he was preoccupied with something important, due to the fact that she knew he was an emergent psychic. She also knew that he held food up there as highly important, yet something was a little off with the runt, so she waited for him to get up so that she could pry that info from him.
"No, I am not. I just wasn't paying attention that is all"
"That is the point of me sneaking up on you brother. You don't so suppose to be paying attention. You are supposed to sense me."
"I was thinkin" "Thinking about what?"
"Thinking about stuff.....food"
"Un, huh, Yeah right. Plus you know you are supposed to wash up before breakfast."
"Hmm, I forgot"
"I see. You know that I know you are thinking more about that tummy of yours do you"
"How do you know, you're sye hum. Si...um...sic.... what is that word?"
"Psychic"
"Yeah you know"
"No, I just know what you are thinking about because I am older and I can see these things."
"I don't get it"
'I'm glad' she thought as she looked at the little pigtailed boy. It was adorable that the boy was smart in some ways and ignorant in others. If that wasn't the case she would be stuck with a sibling that knew everything and wouldn't need her advice. She liked the fact that Ranma looked up to her, always asking about the latest martial art tournament she was in and such. She knew that the runt would out do her and even some off the people she met in the realm of martial arts; however, she was glad that she could play teacher to her cousin, who she called brother, instead of always being the student.
"Don't worry about that you will see when you are older. Anyways you can talk to me bro. I know something is on your mind, so spill it." The one thing that boggled her about her brother was that you could read his face almost too easily. When it came to martial arts, shogi, and schoolwork, he was a different person, but when it came to everyday stuff, you almost always knew what he was thinking. That was why he was bad at playing cards when she tried to teach him. It wasn't that he didn't know the rules, it was just you could read his face to easy. He practically knew what you had in your hand because he was psychic, but you would know what he had because of his appearance. She knew that boy always dressed in Chinese clothes would be harder to read when he got older; however, she also knew it was a trait he was born with. She would always be able to read her brother.
"Mom and Dad are arguing in the dojo."
"And?"
"Well, Dad wants to take me to China to teach me the art. He says that he doesn't want me to be an assumsin or something. You know people who kill for money"
"Your dad doesn't want you to be an 'assassin', Ranma"
"Well, whatever. I do not want to go", replied a somber Ranma as he tried to reach over the counter to get something to eat. Seeing what the brat was doing, the girl with the long black hair whapped her brother's hand away from the countertop.
"What did you do that for?!" said the child of Nodoka Saotome, as he rubbed his hurt hand.
"No food until you wash up, you kaijuu"
"Ibuki-chan, I am hungry."
"Well then go wash up we can talk later" And with that the young boy was off like a rocket up the stairs. The girl named Ibuki watch her brother as he darted up the stairs. Smiling, she was startled out of her stupor when she heard her mother speak to her.
"Sorry mom, what was that?"
"That is okay my dear, I said that he his a handful"
"Not really, the kaijuu isn't that bad"
"I know, but I worry about him?"
"Mom, I need to tell you something"
"Very well, you know you can tell me anything. Some boy at school you like?" replied the mother of two, as she sat down at the table.
"Uh, no, no not that, it is about Ranma", replied her daughter as she too sat at the table. From that last statement. Nodoka cheerfulness was replaced by worry as she looked at her niece. Since Ibuki arrived here to stay permanently, Nodoka was sad and happy at the same time. Ibuki had lived a very hard life compared to some of the other students at her middle school. It didn't help that Ibuki was a part time ninja. Her mother, whom happens to be Nodoka's training partner, was murdered while she was only a baby. Plus, she had witnessed the death of her uncle at that time, by the hands of his own "brother". After that she was trained in the ninja arts along with others in the Seiden Mutou-ryu Taijutsu style. It took a while for Ibuki to get settle down in her new life. Nodoka, her aunt insisted that she called her mother. Not having one she was overjoyed with the idea, however having a mother whom was only 10 years older than her made Ibuki feel slightly uncomfortable. She also just recently returned from the Last Street Fighter Tournament. Being the best in her generation, Nodoka's clan sent Ibuki on a mission to recover some information relating to the host of the affair. While her niece wasn't able to get much, Nodoka didn't care for she had her "daughter" back and now she would be living with her family while she went to college. The downside was her daughter was very intuitive and she always knew what was amiss. Nodoka resigned to the fact that she probably already knew about her argument with her husband and prepared herself for the upcoming discussion. At least, she was protective of Ranma she thought to herself.
"What about Ranma, dear" said the Saotome Matriarch in a apprehensive tone
"Well, I do not know how to tell you this but 'Sorry bro I have to tell her' Ranma is psychic"
"NANI?!"
"Please mom, I do not want Uncle Genma to find out"
"Don't worry he went to the Tendos to blow off some steam, now what were you saying? I could have sworn you said that my son is psychic"
"Sorry mom, but I did" Looking at her daughter's serious face Nodoka was torn in either believing or not believing in what Ibuki said. On one hand she could believe her daughter due to the fact that Ranma had done some miraculous things as of late that defied being even paranormal. Ranma was just too quick of a learner that she didn't bother to question it. On the other, she didn't want Ranma to be no more abnormal then he already was. She knew that even her best friend and clan's member Kimiko hinted at the fact that her boy has some sort of gift at knowing things, but she didn't pay it any mind.
"Are you sure about this"
"Yes I am sure. Remember when Ranma ran off to find the triplets."
"Yes I recall that"
"Well I followed him and the stuff he did was not of this world."
"What do you mean?"
"Ranma has never been taught the Forbidden Techniques has he?"
"No...wait a minute, how do you know about Genma's special techniques"
"Ranma, told me. Anyways, when I was following him to the supermarket he disappeared"
At that Nodoka's face paled. She thought that maybe her son had read more than just Genma's techniques. She couldn't fathom how he could have learned such things at only the age of five. Well she sort of believed it since Ranma could learn things in almost the blink of an eye. If this conversation kept continuing on as it was, Nodoka would be forced to reveal more than just what transpired between her and her husband. She would have to talk about her past and she didn't want to do that just yet.
"Could you still sense him?"
"At first yes, but then all of a sudden I sensed his aura at the supermarket."
"He couldn't have..."
"What?"
"Hold on let me check something" with that, Nodoka got up from her seat at the table and ran upstairs, following close behind was Ibuki who was confused as what the deal was. They continued by heading into the attic, all the while Ibuki watching Ranma's mother murmuring about some box. Nodoka was frantically looking for her old photo album. Finding it she proceeded to look at the cover of the album not finding it torn or even touch she looked at her daughter whom had a bewildered look on her face. Knowing that she didn't know what was hidden in the covers of the photo album, she then looked to see if there was anything in this attic that belonged to Genma. The young ninja was about to ask her mother what was wrong until she ask her a question.
"Ibuki would you help me see if there is anything around here that looks like scrolls of some kind. We need to see if we can find Genma's scrolls. Ranma could not have gotten his hands on them. Thinking the same thing, Ibuki proceeded to help her mother in finding whatever she was looking for while taking the occasional glance and the photo album she brought out. 'She is hiding something' she thought as she looked carefully for anything that resemble what her mother was talking about.
Genma was slowly walking from the outskirts of Juuban to Nerima to meet his fellow Anything Goes comrade Soun Tendo. While walking, he pondered on the last argument he had with his wife about taking Ranma to China. Genma had tried desperately to have a child, however, due to some physical complications he was not able to. However, when Nodoka said that she was pregnant he was ecstatic. He would finally have an heir he could teach his art too. Since, Ranma could walk he had been trying to teach the boy. However, teaching him proved to be difficult. The Saotome patriarch had tried to teach Ranma as quickly as possible, albeit at a reasonable pace. But, Ranma was improving a little bit faster than he predicted, let me restate that way to fast. The boy could already produce an aura and use his ki to sense others. The kid didn't even know what ki was until the bald man with glasses had to some how explain why he was glowing. Thinking that Ranma was improving at a exponential rate, Genma thought that maybe he would never need to take that trip for he never witness a person at that age with that kind of focus and learning capability.
What changed his mind were a couple of days ago when he sparred with Ranma. A grown man sparring with a 5 year old was a little bit absurd even for Genma's taste; but, a grown man fighting a boy at the age of 5 was just plain crazy. Well that was what they were doing a few days ago. While fighting, Genma was amazed that he could not land blows that would literally catch someone of almost his caliber off guard. The pigtailed prodigy just dodged and parried almost every strike. The bandanna clad martial artist knew he had a reach, height, size, and speed advantage, so he knew Ranma couldn't hit him unless he allow him too. But despite that, Ranma was only fairly bruised up and not even winded. His agility was his only advantage, and boy did he use it. Ranma knew that he couldn't press any attack nor could he use speed to counter and hit. Ranma could only dodge and parry his father's attacks to the best of his ability. While ducking and flipping over various sweeps and kicks, the Saotome heir knew he needed an equalizer. Even though, the young lad had somehow figured out how to make himself stronger and faster by using his ki during those training exercises to get better results, he still had a 5 year old frame that could only get so strong and fast before it was detrimental to his health. That was when Genma had received the shock of his life. His son blurred for an instant and attack with a shadow ki blade that looked like a katana of some sort. Stunned Genma back away quickly to look at his son. Seeing his frustration at not being able to land a hit, Genma was about to call the match over until his son's aura flickered as he produced a mini vacuum blade projectile like the one from his forbidden techniques. In the span of less than 30 seconds Ranma had used hidden techniques from both Genma's and Nodoka's schools. Even though the vacuum ki bladed projectile missed fairly wide to the left, Genma knew that his son was not of this world and could not be taught by way of conventional methods. As Ranma fainted from exhaustion, Genma picked up his child with only one thought in mind. 'Ranma cannot remain here'
Genma also wanted to take Ranma on the trip because he felt as though he was distant from him. It wasn't that Nodoka was of ninja background and he was ashamed with that. He felt the total opposite actually. As a matter of fact his wife was almost his equal in the art if not more so. He was just slightly jealous that Ranma really didn't need him to learn anything. Even his friend's wife, Kimiko was Ranma's personal tutor, and she was a middle school teacher no less. His wife plus her niece, Ibuki, also had a lot of influence in Ranma's life. He didn't. He wasn't as educated and well rounded as the rest of the people who made up Ranma's world as of now. All he had to give his boy was the art. That was it. So he continued walking trying to some how preserve his place in the pigtailed youth's life.
Back at the Saotome home, the wild horse had just finished his soak in the furo and was ready for some breakfast. After getting dressed in the changing room, putting on a grey long sleeve Chinese shirt along with his back kung fu pants. Ranma went downstairs to see if there was anything to eat. 'Still no food' thought Ranma to himself as he looked around the kitchen for something to munch on. Finding an apple in the fruit bowl on the counter, Ranma telekinetically moved the apple to the sink to wash it off. Afterwards, he made it fly into his hand. Taking a big bite out of the apple, Ranma wondered where everyone was. Stretching out his senses Ranma could tell that his mother and sister were in the attic, and his father was drifting away, meaning that he was probably heading over to the Tendos. 'Wait a minute. Kaasan and Neechan are upstairs for what? I want to see.' the younger brother of Ibuki then levitated to the top of the stairs as he made his way to the attic. In the attic, Nodoka was replaying what her adopted daughter said about her son being psychic. She knew that she would have to end up explaining things if her baby boy ended up revealing things. With her latest dispute with Genma, she was not ready to deal with this. Glimpsing at her niece, Nodoka proceeded to ask her how she dealt with the always Chinese clothed boy's abilities.
"Ibuki-chan"
"Yes, Mom"
"How do you deal with Ranma's quirks?"
"Huh?"
"You know being able to read your mind and such"
"Oh that, well you see Ranma's abilities come and go"
"What do you mean they come and go?"
"What I mean is that Ranma sometimes does things without knowing how he did them. When I asked him how he read my mind the first time, he said he didn't know but he could feel some fluctuation in my spirit or something."
"Huh, I don't get what you are saying dear"
"Well, I don't understand either myself. Maybe you should ask Aki-sensei or Hinako-sensei. They also are aware of Ranma's ability"
"How?"
"He read there mind too. He asked them why Hinako-san needed to dress up as a nurse when Aki-san wasn't sick. Anyways have you ever seen that movie Ranma watches all the time?"
"Oh Dear, which one? The one with kung fu actors or the one with those glowing katana things"
"The one with the swords. Have you ever seen it and understood the thing about the 'Force'"
"Yes, it was just some make believe substitute for ki with bizarre precepts and powers"
"Well, according to Hinako-sensei, she said that this might not be so weird"
"You mean to tell me that this force thing is real? Is this some joke"
"No, no, I am sorry I didn't mean that. What I meant to say was that Ranma somehow uses his ki in more ways than one. Not in just the way martial artist use it, Ranma uses his ki in everything.
"Nani?"
"Let me call Hinako-sensei and Aki-sensei to better explain it. I get confused myself trying to figure out all that stuff"
"Very well. However, you really didn't answer my first question. You know about how you deal with Ranma be able to read your mind."
"Oh, well that is easy. Like I said before, the kaijuu is untrained in his powers so he can only read surface thoughts of your mind when there are real strong."
"I don't understand. And please stop calling Ranma a monster."
"It means that you must remain calm. Ranma isn't able to read thoughts that aren't you know strong."
"I think I see where you are trying to get at. If someone is very emotional or excited about a certain thought, then Ranma can read that thought."
"Yeah, you know this better than I do."
"I think I will take you up on that offer of calling Tofu and Hinako-san, are they at the clinic?"
"Yes, they should be there at this time"
At that moment, the subject of discussion made his appearance by popping up in front of the young ninja girl as he was eating his apple. Stunned, at what happen the part-time ninja fell on her bottom, knocking some boxes open.
"Don't do that you little kaijuu"
"Huh? What did I do?"
"You did that disappear/reappear trick again"
"Oh sorry I don't know how I did that, I knew you and Mom was in the attic and I couldn't get the latch open and I just well you know?"
Too say that the mother of this rambunctious child was shocked would be and understatement. She was frozen in place as she witnessed the latest feat that her baby just did without knowing. Recognizing the maneuver immediately, Nodoka Saotome was left with one question 'How?' Shaking herself from her paralyzed position, the mother of the two scrambled across the floor to look at the covers of her photo album. Checking the book over numerous of times, she wondered how her son could learn much less perform techniques which were hidden in the thick woven and bound covers of her album. But when her son asked her this next question she knew.
"Mom what is the Ka-su-mi"
"What do you mean dear? Kasumi is your friend at the Tendos, along with her sisters. You know that" hopefully replied the guardian of the two kids in the attic.
"No mom not girls, they have cooties, I mean Ka-su-mi Ji Ge Giri, the Kasumi Giri" Nodoka only response to that statement was this. She fainted.
A few blocks from the Tendo Dojo, at the Ono Family Clinic, a fairly young man with a white lab coat, and wire framed glasses named Dr. Aki Ono, was on the phone with the niece of Nodoka Saotome. Recalling how concerned Ranma's mother was about his condition, Ibuki asked the doctor if he could explain his analysis of the pigtailed youth in detail.
"Dr. Aki, mother as just found out about the little runt, so could you be so kind as to come over and explain the situation to her? I really can't do a good enough job of that because I don't fully understand myself"
"Yes, sure, I was on my way there to check up on the little prodigy anyhow. How is Nodoka? Did she take the news well?"
"At first, but then Ranma appeared right in front of us, coming out of nowhere. Mom fainted"
"Excuse me?"
"He just went poof, I am here"
"That's insane"
"I know. Mom is now nervously pacing back forth worrying. I'm telling you Doc, she has about lost it."
"Tell her to calm down. I am on my way."
"Dr. Ono?"
"Yes?"
"Could you please bring both Hinako-Sensei and Kimiko-Sensei?"
"Why Mrs. Tendo?"
"Because she knows about Ranma, plus she is his tutor. Also, if Mom along, with Auntie Tendo and Hinomiya-san are over here that will prevent Uncle Tendo and Uncle Saotome from coming to find out what is up. Mom doesn't want them to find out just yet. They might overreact.
"Clever. I now understand. I will be sure to relay the message.
"Thanks, Aki-sensei. You're the best"
"I will see you later, bye."
"Bye"
"Aki-chan, who was it?" said a beautiful woman as she entered the clinic's office. Wearing a green blazer, along with a matching skit, she sat on top of the office desk watching her fiancé look through his file cabinet
"That was Ibuki..."
"Don't tell me. Nodoka knows"
"Yeah"
"I see" said the young school teacher as she saw her significant other place a file on his desk. Noticing the name as Saotome Ranma, she wondered how a little kid like that could do all those amazing things.
"Hina-chan, would you be willing to accompany me along with Kimiko-san, to visit the Saotomes. Judging from how Ibuki sounded on the phone, Nodoka seems to be pretty shaken up by this. I also get the impression that she doesn't want her husband to know."
"I can understand that, Genma and Soun can be quite irrational at times. I still do not believe I had a crush on Soun back then."
"I hope I fit your requirements now your highness" replied Dr. Ono with a lecherous smirk
"You passed phenomenally well in all categories but I think I need to test you again just to make sure. I might have been wrong in my analysis" responded Hinako as she wrapped her arms around her fiancé.
"Really"
"But not now, my love. I am worried about our friends. Kimiko has been diagnosed with cancer, and she is keeping it secret. I know Nodoka his hiding something, and her child Ranma, I don't know what to say about him. I do not feel well about this", said Hinako as she peck her husband to be on the lips.
"Me too, but all will be revealed soon."
"Well, let me call Kimiko and we will meet you there okay" stated the young school teacher as she reluctantly left Aki's embrace.
"Okay I will meet you there. Make sure the men don't feel suspicious. Oh and one more thing could you please take Tofu with you. He has been messing with my tools all day."
"You know that son of yours is going to be the death of you"
"Not if you beat him too it" grinned the doctor as he hugged his wife to be from behind
"Pervert"
Somewhere along the backstreets of Tokyo, an unknown man in a cloak walked across a deserted alley. Coming to a brick wall, the man slowly took his arm out and drew his hand back. With a seemingly one swift motion the man swung his hand down as if it were a sword, at the opposing wall. The wall looked as though it was untouched, until the man lightly pushed it in the center. The result left, a falling 4 wide foot pillar of concrete brick crashing down to the ground. The man continued on his way through his makeshift drawbridge as the debris from the street fluttered noisily with the wind. The disillusioned individual then slit his wrist, the blood coming out in a pinkish-violet color. Taking a drink of his own blood, the man mutter one phrase
"You are not the only one who has the scrolls of immortality...my friend."
Walking casually down the street, the bandanna clad martial artist with glasses reached the gates of the Tendo Dojo. Thinking about ways to relieve his insecurities dealing with his son, the master of the Saotome Branch looked forward to thrashing Soun in a nice game of shogi. As he entered the gate, he spotted Soun's wife and Hinako-san to the right of the dojo. Rounding the corner of the house he sees his old friend inside the dojo training his daughters the basics of the Anything Goes Style.
"Hey Tendo, looks like you are on your way to having an heir, 3 beautiful ones at that"
"Why, thanks my friend. They are my special treasures. They really do take after there mother" The said daughters sensing freedom from their dad turned sensei scattered out of the dojo to play outside. Seeing Tofu watching the pond, Akane proceeded to show him one her supposed new martial art tricks, while Kasumi and Nabiki tried to prevent Akane from hurting Tofu or herself.
"Ah, yes they do indeed. Out of all of them which one shows the most interest in the art?"
"Right now it is too early to tell. However I can say that Kasumi and Nabiki are very good at learning their mother's art better than Akane. Akane seems to be too energetic to learn the basics of the Mugen Tenshin Style. But as I said it is too early to tell."
"Your daughters are learning both the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu and the Mugen Tenshin Ryu. I mean doesn't that intrude with having a sole heir of the Anything Goes Style. I mean the way of the ninja is outdated, and...and"
"I feel as though the addition of Kimi-chan's style helps improve the Musabetsu Kakuto Ryu. Anyways our style is suppose be able to adapt and fuse with many others, so I don't see what the problem is.
"It is just...I really don't know"
"Is something troubling you my friend?"
"My boy"
"Now that kid is a natural. That son of yours is 10 years ahead of my best students. You are lucky to have a child that is so enthused with learning the art."
"That is not the problem. The boy needs to follow in my foot steps to carry on the tradition of the Saotome clan, he must be a man amongst men, he..." boasted Genma
Hearing Soun's friend and fellow martial art peer shout all of sudden, suddenly dropped their conversation to see what had, the bear like, man all wound up. Finding the dojo doors closed, the young Furikan High cautiously approached the dojo so she could eavesdrop.
"Hina-chan, get away from that door this instant" hissed the Tendo mother as she look over to where Tofu and her daughters were, as of the moment Tofu was wrapped head to toe in rope while her most vivacious child, little Akane tried to toll him away. Kasumi and Nabiki were quiet laughing as Tofu was dragged across the ground. 'Poor boy' thought Kimiko as she moved to get her fellow school teacher's attention.
"Ah don't be such a prude. They are only talking about you know who"
"Well that boy of his is out of this world. There is no wonder he is worried."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it is not for me to say"
"Well, if you don't to want tell me then at least let me get the info elsewhere" retorted Hinako as she playfully shooed Kimiko out of the way, "Now go on before I cause a scene"
"Oh all right"
Not wanting to listen in on her husband conversation, Kimiko instead went to watch her kids harass the 8 year old child of their family doctor. The supposed boy was now tied to a tree, due to his blue haired assailant. Kasumi and Nabiki were trying to get the rope unloose so Tofu could get free. Even though the scene was amusing, her curiosity got the best of her and she wondered back to the dojo to see what was so interesting about the dialogue going inside that her friend didn't loose interest yet.
"What is going on in there?" whispered the Assistant Master of the Mugen Tenshin Ryu, as she came closer to the door.
"I see that you couldn't stay way too huh, chuckled, the first female student of Happosai, "It seems to me that air of fidelity you hold is just a facade."
"Oh, why don't you just be quiet and move over" rejoined the bluish-black haired woman Her friend only reply was to quietly laugh to herself as she made more room for them to listen in. Inside the dojo, Soun was slowly unraveling what was causing his frequent shogi partner so much anxiety. Knowing that his daughters learning their mother's art really had no relevance to Genma problem, Soun just went to source and flat out asked him.
"I think your son is on his way to accomplishing those things in more. Does this have anything to do with your son learning from Nodoka?"
"No..it is just...ah yes. Yes it is"
"You think he will grow up to be like his mother?"
"If that were to happen he.....would not be my child."
"Of course he would be your child....oh I get it"
"You see, that boy doesn't need me. He will surpass me in the next few years. What then? I can't teach him anything else. He already sees me as an opponent to surpass. Guess what he did? When we were last sparring, he threw a vacuumed chi blade at me. How in the hell did he do that? I check my scrolls to see if there were out of place. They were all there. Even if they wasn't all there how did have enough ki and focus to do that?"
After hearing Genma's last words, everyone listening to the conversation were shaking in their boots. Ranma wasn't a malicious child, not even close to one, but with his uncanny abilities, he was a danger to himself and to others. With this recent information, Hinako and Kimiko agreed that they needed to tell Ono of this latest revelation. Meanwhile Soun, was seriously reconsidering if it were safe if to keep the pact him and Genma made about joining the schools. Seeing how his comrade looked, the man in his trademark white gi decided to placate his friend's worries.
"Don't worry the future of our schools will be safe. I have decided that I will take Ranma on a training trip to China. There I hope I can keep him from doing anything drastic.
"Are you sure about this"
"I am, for this is the only solution I can think of"
Expecting company, Nodoka decided it was best if Ibuki took Ranma out for some ice cream. Knowing that Mom really didn't approve of Ranma's addiction to ice cream, the young female ninja knew something was big. Recalling the way the Saotome Matriarch held that photo book and the what her adopted brother said before Nodoka fainted, Ibuki felt like she was being left out so she decided to get the inside scoop from the kaijuu.
"Hey Ranma, what is the Kasumi Giri?"
"Slurp Slurp" responded the Chinese clothed boy as he finished his second sundae, "Ah that was good, neechan can I have another one?"
"Not until you answer my question" answered Ibuki with a sigh. Ibuki should have known she would go broke taking Ranma out for ice cream. That was his second large sundae he just consumed, not too mention the two ice cream cones before that.
"Huh?"
"What is the Kasumi Giri?"
"It is a move that makes you go poof" said the young lad as he gestured with his hands to make up for his lack of vocabulary. Getting the hint, Ibuki asked him another question.
"Why did you ask mom about the move?"
"Because there is sco....soll"
"Scroll Ranma"
"Yeah, scrolls in that picture book"
"What else are on those scrolls?"
"Some moves that turn your arms into swords"
Getting the gist of it, the young ninja asked her younger sibling if there was anything else that the he knew about before coming to an assumption.
"What other moves do you know?"
"Sumtin like the Kasumi Giri, but I think it is hidden under the Tendo Dojo. The name on the paper was Hapo sumtin and..."
"Ranma 'something'"
"Yeah, something, and some moves where you kick and punch really fast and stuff"
"Like my Haishin-Sho and Tsumuji"
"Yeah. I think I found a way to shoot that ki stuff out your hands too, and take ki away from stuff. Like what Hinako-san use to do, before she mastered it. But I am not too good with those things yet. I need a lot more practice. But I did grow a little when I tried it the first time."
"Don't you have to use that special coin?"
"Not really, but you have to conc....conce......think real hard."
"The word is concentrate, Ranma. What kinds of names were on these scrolls" inquired the former Street Fighter participant. Ibuki had to prevent herself from facefaulting with the news of what her so called brother conveyed. Like Ono-san, Ibuki realized that Ranma had a photographic memory. That, along with his psionic attributes allowed him to learn things extremely fast. It also enabled the boy to catalogue information for further use. If Ranma's body was at least that of a 10 year old he could almost defeat each martial artist here in Nerima in a one on one match, deduced the female ninja. That meant that Ranma may need to go on that trip to China to better himself, because he would not get that here. Unlike everyone else, Ibuki wasn't scared of Ranma. She knew the boy had limitations. He could only tinker around with a certain technique once or twice before becoming totally exhausted. It was due to the fact that he was only 5, (actually more like 6 in a month and a half) for there was only so much he could do before he lacked the knowledge and/or physical necessity to do each move effectively. None of his abilities would help him in a fight. However, Ranma improved at an exponential rate, and it would only be a matter of time before his gifts became second nature.
"I can't read the names to well. Most of the words were in Chinese."
"NANI?! Do you know Chinese?"
"A little"
"Holy shit"
"Neechan isn't that a bad word."
And with that the young shinobi facefaulted
"Hey neechan get up, you said that after you stopped talkin I could get some more ice cream!"
Back at the Saotome household the owner at Ono's Family Clinic was waiting at the table as his host served tea. After placing a cup in front of him, Nodoka took a seat across from the doctor sipping her own tea, patiently waiting for the news to be revealed about her son.
"So, Doctor. What is wrong with my child?"
"Nothing. I've a question?"
"You know I won't answer that."
"Okay, but one day he is going to find out and soon if I assume correctly of his abilities."
"Care to explain?"
"Well, remember how your niece?"
"She is my daughter from now on."
"Okay your daughter was explaining the comparisons with ki to the force thing in the movie?"
"Yes I remember."
"Well, your son, Ranma, has this miraculous facility to use his ki and some other underlying energy source as he sees fit."
"Nani?!"
"Let me continue. Ranma wasn't born psychic nor was he born with this remarkable amount of ki that he possesses now."
"So how did he become psychic?"
"I am trying to understand that myself. From what I've researched, Ranma is able to use ki probes to read people's minds. However, not even the greatest of empaths or martial artists can accomplish this. They use ki probes to read emotions and just surface thoughts."
"But Ibuki said that Ranma could only read surface thoughts."
"That is what he can sense without really trying. If Ranma picks up on something interesting from someone, he will probably put more effort in trying to get that particular information."
"That is why he is learning techniques so quickly?"
"That is one of the reasons, yes. The others are due to his photographic memory and his intelligence."
"What about this other energy source that you talk about? What is it?"
"I do not have a name for it, but it seems as though everyone has this energy source. However, it is something that is so small no one really notices it. Yet your son...."
"Go on."
"When I examined your son last, his ki seemed to have something else within it. Like a nerve of some sort."
"Nerve? I am totally lost Aki"
"Ki is supposedly used to be just an extension of your physical abilities. You can improve your sense of smell, sight, touch, hearing, taste. However, martial artist mainly use this for increasing their speed and strength which correlates more to the sense of touch. Empaths and martial art masters use ki for the other senses. Ranma's ki is like that but more. It is as if his ki is a pure substitution of himself, in physical ways and in mental ways."
"Isn't that the same as what you just described?"
"No, Ranma's ki is like his body. Instead of using it to improve his body or be an extension of it, Ranma can use it as if it is his body. He can use it to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell something without being near it or doing the above things. For example, he can have his eyes closed and recognize colors, not because someone was thinking of them, but because he actually saw it with his ki. That source of energy bounded to ki gives him the ability to have 6th and 7th sense, more or less. If that is the case, Whatever Ranma thinks is possible, is possible."
"H...How?"
Just then the door bell rung, signifying some one was at the door. Getting up to answer it, the Saotome Matriarch excused herself to get to the door. When she opened the door, she was surprised and a little miffed at seeing her daughter and son at the door. She was about to reprimand them, until she saw the worried and concerned look on her adopted daughter's face.
"Mom, I know we were supposed to be out while you were talking to Ono- sensei, but you need to hear this", stated Ibuki as she dragged an ice cream covered Ranma in the house. Recognizing that the doctor was already here she acknowledge him by saying, "Doc, you also need to hear this" before she hastily sat herself and her charge down at the table.
"You didn't have to drag me here I can walk on my own" shouted the young boy as he glared at his sister.
"I don't call floating in mid air walking, do you?"
The older adults blanched at hearing this. Feeling the uncomfortable stares given to her and her brother, the young shinobi just flat out told them what she and the kaijuu discussed at the ice cream parlor.
After, she was finished with her tale; her mother was almost in a state of shock, while Dr. Ono was now pacing back and forth across the dining room.
"For someone like Ranma to be able to perform the Happo Go-en Satsu without the coin is amazing. Plus the fact that he survived this in the first place is out of this world."
"Genma may be right that Ranma needs to go on a long training trip, my son what am I going to do without you?"
"Hey mom, what are you talking about", inquired the little boy as he looked at his mother's solemn face. Not wanting to see her unhappy the young lad tried to cheer her up. "Hey mom I am not going anywhere? I want to be with you and neechan."
Looking at her son trying to give confidence to her almost broke her heart, for she knew that he was going to suffer a lot more than he realized. Gathering up her resolve, Nodoka finally knew what she needed to do. Getting Ono's support was a big help, for without him she knew she wouldn't be able to do this. Going towards a painting along the west wall of the room, Nodoka removed the painting to reveal a small safe. Opening the safe, Nodoka, picked out an old necklace and put it around her son. After that, she took a container of what seemed to be water and poured it over her son.
"What was that for?" said a now wet Ranma, as he looked at his mother skeptically
'You are now ready for your journey' said a voice inside Ranma's head
'What was that!?' said a spooked out Ranma. Everyone thinking that the pigtailed was still rambling on about what just happened didn't pick up on his outburst.
'Be quiet little one unless you want them to think you're crazy. Speak in your mind'
'Kay, who are you?'
'The stupid dragon'
'Oops, what do you want with me'
'Look at your pendant on the necklace'
As the young prodigy studied his necklace, it began to glow with a gold- yellowish hue on the bottom of the bronze pendant. Wondering what it was, he asked his mother about it.
"Mom, what is this?" asked the pigtailed boy as he raised his necklace to show to his mother.
"That was given to me from one of my brothers of my clan. I want you to keep it" replied the older woman in a kimono. She really couldn't divulge any more information due to the fact that she didn't know much about the pendant itself. However she knew the person, a man, all too well. But she wasn't going to reveal that secret until the time was right.
"What was with the water?"
"It is sort of an initiation for new ninja recruits"
"Huh, what is init...tia...shon? Initiation. Hey I got it right!"
"You have to go on this training trip with your father." She looked on appraisingly at her son as he contemplated on this latest predicament. The only reason Nodoka didn't explain further about what was going on was because she herself didn't know the secrets behind this foreboding event. All she remembered was...
Flashback
"Nodoka-san?" said a man, whose head was wrapped in cloth, obscuring his face. The only thing the cloth didn't cover was his long ponytail and piercing green eyes. Clothed in a worn out military outfit, the man removed from his perch near the window as he looked at the person who just walked in his camp. The person who just walked in was beautiful young woman clad in a standard ninja outfit. She had long reddish brown hair that cascaded down to the small of her back. Noticing what she had in her hands the unknown man had to snicker to himself.
"Yes" said the young woman as she prepared herself for a brief kata.
"Always carrying around that blasted sword of yours I see", said the character with a chuckle, as he removed himself from the shadows so his guest could get a better look at him.
"I have to keep practicing you know. I prefer not sit around all day moping about stuff"
"Hey, I train enough. Anyways where is that boyfriend of yours."
"He is not my boyfriend! Plus, I thought you wanted me to stay away from him. What is with the change of heart, huh?"
"With your stubborn institution it was inevitable. Well?"
"Oh, sorry he went for a walk. You know he is your friend. What is with this hostility between you two?"
"He is arrogant, always fuming about that clan that he is after, saying that they took what was rightfully his. I'm telling you stay away from him. Trouble follows him. It is bad enough that his sister is a part of a different rival clan."
"I thought you were his friend. How could talk about him like that? You are just mad that he is a better fighter that you. Even after all the improvement you've done, you still can't match him."
"He is too serious. He is always trying to find out who killed his friend and his sister. Plus he holds back when we are fighting. Even when I do get the chance to one up him, I know it is not a true victory."
"Are you referring to Allison Bogard" inquired the young female ninja in a pensive tone.
"Yep. That was the only girl I've seen besides you that he has ever talked to" stated the man as he reminisced. "Now he is becoming a hired assassin, hoping to find clues in the underground."
"You said that Geki was a descendant from the great Hanzo Hattori, did you not?"
"Yes, he is also a descendant from this tribe also, from some Chinese ninja master but I do not remember the name. You are not going to confront him about this are you?"
"Ah, hum..."
"I should have known. You do have feelings for him. Anyways I have something to give you", said the man as he walked to the edge of his huge tent and bent down to retrieved a bag. Pulling out a jug of water and a small necklace with a bronze medallion he handed them to his fellow occupant.
"Isn't these the things needed for an initiation of a new student?"
"Yes. They are" replied the man as he got up from the floor and walk up to Nodoka."
"But, I am not a student of your style. Why did you give me this?"
"That is for your child. You see I do not have any successors of my arts and I would like for you to teach a child of yours all that comes with being a ninja in this style" answer the unknown guy as he retrieve a few scrolls from the bag and gave them to Nodoka.
"But I do not even have a child. Plus, what if I have more than one, who should I give it too?"
"You will know. Anyways, promise me that you will give your kid these when he or she is ready and train them to the best of your abilities."
"I promise."
"Very well, I will leave you to your practice then."
"Okay" responded Nodoka as she unsheathed her blade and started the first movements of her kata. After her first swing she called back to the enigmatic man as she turned around
"Thanks, Lin-san"
"I should be the one saying thanks" responded Lin, as he left the tent. Under his breath he murmured softly "An Mei............."
End of Flashback
Still in her daydream, the Saotome Matriarch was a little surprised at her son's recent outburst
"Mom why do I have ta go on that stupid trainin trip with the old man" stated the young boy in a dismayed voice, as he thrashed his arms around starting a tantrum.
"Son, do not talk that way about your father" chided Nodoka gently as she turned her gaze to the other occupants in the room.
Ranma was about to make a retort when the voice of the dragon in his dreams spoke again
'You must go to protect the people you care about'
'Huh, what do you mean?'
'Do you want to be the best martial artist that ever lived?'
'Yeah'
'Then you have to go. What is the purpose of a martial artist?'
'To help people who are weaker than I. To protect them I think.'
'It seems that your baka of a father actually taught you something of use.'
'Hey only I can call my old man a baka, baka.'
'Oh really' replied the dragon as he started to show a demonic grin. Scaring the young boy out of his wits was very amusing; however, he needed the boy to be somewhat consciously aware of his presence to continue talking to him.
'Don't do that you big reptile'
'I have a name you know, Luan Mo'
'I have a name too, and it is Ran Ma. Ranma! What is your name anyways?'
'Shen Long'
'Nani?!'
'He, he. Surprised aren't you?'
'You are real. I thought you were make believe and stuff'
'I am very real, so do you trust me now?'
'I guess so'
'Well then stop being a kaijuu' humorously replied Shen Long as he vanished from the pigtailed boy's mind.
"Stupid Dragon"
'I heard that, Luan Mo'
'Oops, My name is not...Aw forget it.'
"What was that Ranma" questioned Ibuki as she looked at her younger sibling carefully. She was a little perplexed to why the young pugnacious boy was mumbling under his breath like that. Chalking it up to the wind, the female shinobi just decided that it was just another one of those eccentricities that abnormal people had, forgetting that she was just a bit atypical herself.
"Ah, nothing"
"Kay, I'm going to the dojo for some practice. You want to come?"
"You bet"
Back in Nerima, Hinako and Kimiko had just got on the connecting train from their home to Juuban. On the train ride, the newest teacher at Furikan glanced at her friend sitting next to her as seem to be a little out of sorts. Worried that she might not be feeling well, Hinomiya-san questioned her fellow school teacher to see if she was alright.
"Tendo-san, are you feeling well?"
"I'm okay just feeling a little under the weather I supposed" replied the Tendo matriarch tiredly as she shifted in her seat. Her eyes fluttered briefly as if she was about to fall asleep. Perturbed of her associate's out of the blue behavior, the fiancé of Aki Ono, lightly shook her to keep her awake.
"Kimi-san, you seem a little lethargic. Should we turn around? I feel as though you need some rest"
"No, no I'm alright" responded the wife of Soun Tendo wearily. Truth was she was feeling very sluggish all of a sudden. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to succumb to her friend's annoying prodding; therefore, she continued her pretense that she was alright.
Hinako apprehensively studied her traveling companion. Gazing at her face, she could see that her friend was perspiring a little and seem as if she was running a high fever. The way her posture was set, it looked as though Kimiko would fall on her face any minute. The mother of the 3 Tendo triplets abruptly groaned as she clutched her stomach. The former student of the Anything Goes School immediately was trying to probe her friend to find out what was wrong. Not getting any answer, just a couple of moans, she then called for help. At that moment, Kimiko clutched her stomach even harder as she passed out from the pain.
"Kimi-san, Kimi-san, wake up. Oh my god, someone please help us!"
Back at the Saotome Dojo, the young female shinobi and her pigtailed sibling were lightly sparring. As of the moment, Ibuki was having the upper hand, keeping the little tyke off balance with her reach and speed. However, the "wild horse" wonder wasn't showing his full deck yet. Knowing he wasn't able to get in reach to pass her defenses, Ranma thought about using something he mention to his older sibling earlier. He just needed the time and right opportunity to strike.
Rolling under a mid swing kick, the pig tailed kid dropped back and to the left, knowing full well she was right handed. Thinking that his sister would pull out one those "Hien" kicks, to knock him out of the air, Ranma decided that he had the perfect counter. Jumping up, the Saotome heir look as if he was going to try for a flying kick hoping that she would take the bait.
She didn't. The older shinobi could easily see that the kick was a feint, due to the lack of size the boy had. She could see that he tried to put as much effort into the maneuver as possible, but he was just too small to make it look convincing. Feeling a little mischievous, Ibuki decided to show the little runt why she was one of the best in her generation. 'For now' she thought. As Ranma realize that Ibuki wasn't going to fall for his ploy, he panicked; therefore he wasn't able to read her mind to see the painful fate she had in store for him. It was then that she grabbed him out of the air. Needless to say, the result was very awful.
"Ack! Let me go"
"Raida!" exclaimed the soon to be high school ninja has she picked up the pint-size boy up with one arm and blasted him with a small ki burst.
"Owwwwie!" screeched the Chinese clothed boy as he sailed out the dojo entrance to land in a heap just outside the back door to the house.
"He, he, that will prevent you from trying that lame trick again, ne" snorted Ibuki as she casually walked outside to see to her 'brother'.
"Yeah, yeah, you got me" groggily replied Ranma, as he removed himself off the ground while brushing the dirt of his clothes.
Ibuki was kind of shocked that the boy admitted defeat so easily. Well, not really seeing that the boy lost every single sparring to her. However, she was really spooked that her sparring partner didn't comment on her latest technique. She knew he didn't know about it therefore that meant that Ranma had not read all of her thoughts to know about all of her secrets. Usually when the little kaijuu saw something new or extraordinary, he would be jumping at the chance to see how it was done. This time it was different...
"What is wrong Ranma?" asked Ibuki in a worried tone.
"I do not know" replied the little youth as he looked around randomly
Ibuki was getting uneasy by the way the runt was acting. 'Maybe I hit him too hard. Nope that can't be it his father has done worse. A hell of a lot worse I might add.' Thinking back to when Genma blindfolded Ranma and used him as a human piñata brought back a terrified experience. How someone is supposed do dodge attacks when they are hanging upside down on a tree and blindfolded is beyond comprehension. Getting upset by her frequent charge's antics, Ibuki was ready to pound the poor boy some more.
"What do you mea...?"
All of a sudden, Ranma ran into the house saying that they needed to go to the doctor. Everyone was stunned as to what was wrong. When Nodoka and Dr. Ono got up from the kitchen table to see what had the child so roused up. Ranma literally slammed into his mother on the leg and grab her as hard as he could.
"Ouch, Ranma please let go of my leg!"
"Sorry mom."
"I told you about running in the house. Now what is going on?"
"We have to go to the doctor's"
"Huh. Why did something happen to you or Ibuki outside? Dr. Tofu could you?"
"There is nothing wrong with me", replied Ibuki as she came up behind Ranma. "I do not know what the kaijuu is talking about"
"Ibuki stop calling Ranma a kaijuu"
"Sorry, I can't help it. He is you know"
"Ibuki"
"Okay, Okay"
"Well Ranma is there something I can help you with?" inquired Dr. Ono as he squatted down to meet the boy's gaze. Looking over him, Dr. Ono couldn't really see if he needed to go to the doctor's office, but with this kid you never knew.
"No Doc, it is Auntie Tendo, she is in trouble."
All the other people looked at each other as if Ranma had grown a new head. Just then the phoned ringed. Excusing herself from the silence, the mother of the household answered the phone.
"Hello, Saotome Residence, may I help you."
As Nodoka continued to talk on the phone her face became paler by the second. When she hung up the phone everyone went to ask why the sad face while Ranma was at the door as if waiting for them.
"Mom, why the sad face all of a sudden?" questioned Ibuki as she put her arm around Nodoka's back for support. Nodoka looked toward Dr. Ono before the tears started following down.
"It is Kimiko-san, she...she..."
Dr. Aki Ono didn't need further information. He knew this time would be coming soon but he was still surprised at Ranma's little outburst
"Auntie is dying, we need to hurry up!"
Cataloging the pigtailed boy's recent feat for a later time, Dr. Ono went to help Ibuki get Nodoka outside, but was startled when the young shinobi pointed at spot Ranma was.
"Where is Ranma" questioned the doctor as he looked around. "He was just here a few seconds ago."
"He vanished" replied Ibuki offhandedly as she made sure her mother didn't freak out, "Don't worry. I have an idea to where he went."
"Okay" answered the fiancé of Hinako as he became more and more confused.
"Remember what I was talking about earlier. Well you just witnessed the......
"That was the Kage-Houshi" said Nodoka between sniffles, "I am not worried about my son, knowing him he his probably there already, let's get a move on"
The trio then got into Dr. Aki Ono's car and made there way to Tokyo General Hospital to see if Kimiko Tendo would be alright, or better yet to see if she would survive her ordeal.
End of Chapter 1
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